The Lonely Planet guide to Boston’s Freedom Trail

07.09.2024 - 23:27 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 7, 2024 • 7 min read

This article was adapted from the Pocket Boston guidebook due to be published in January 2025 and written by Mara Vorhees.

One of Boston ’s most popular attractions , the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail comprises 16 colonial and revolutionary historical sites, tracing the locations of the events that earned this town its status as the “Birthplace of the Revolution.”

Whether you prefer to walk the trail at your own pace or join a guided tour, use this guide to summon your inner Paul Revere and follow the redbrick road, from the Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument.

The Freedom Trail kicks off at the Boston Common , the country’s oldest public park and a centerpiece of the city. The 50-acre green is crisscrossed with walking paths and dotted with monuments. Don’t miss the memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the all-Black 54th Regiment, which fought for the Union in the Civil War.

Local tip: The Boston Common is often called ‘the Common’ in local parlance, but never "the Commons." Use the singular or risk ridicule by locals !

Overlooking the Boston Common, Massachusetts State House occupies a proud spot atop the city’s last remaining hill – land that was previously part of John Hancock’s cow pasture. Go inside for a free tour of the historic halls and the functioning seat of government.

Detour: National Park Service rangers give free 90-minute guided tours on the Black Heritage Trail , departing from the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial across the street. These tours explore the history of the abolitionist movement and African American settlement on Beacon Hill .

The soaring spire of Park Street Church has been an unmistakable landmark since 1809. The church earned the moniker "Brimstone Corner" both for its usage as a gunpowder storage place during the War of 1812 and for its fiery preaching.

Next to the church, a pair of Egyptian Revival gates open to the Granary Burying Ground . Steeped in history, the serene cemetery is the final resting place of many of the Sons of Liberty – such as Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and James Otis – as well as the victims of the Boston Massacre and other historical figures.

At the corner of School St, the Georgian King’s Chapel overlooks its adjacent burying ground, which is the oldest in the city. It is perhaps an odd choice for inclusion on the Freedom Trail since it was founded as an Anglican church in 1688. It does, however, contain a large bell crafted by Paul Revere and the prestigious Governor’s pew, once occupied by George Washington.

Planning tip: Besides the biweekly services, 30–40 minute music recitals are held in King’s Chapel every Tuesday at 12:15pm.

In front of Old City Hall on School St, a plaque commemorates